Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers #5)(71)

Lucas clicked a remote control, and the King of the Realm came up on-screen. In battle gear, Dage Kayrs looked every bit the warrior he was known to be. He'd also tied back his thick hair. An odd, narrow swatch of gray cut from his temple through the black from a virus he'd survived, but the king was still as dangerous as they came. "The fight is over?" he asked, sitting back in his thick leather chair. 

"Yes," Bear said.

Dage kicked at something out of camera range. "Oh, all right. Very well, then."

"Sorry to disappoint you, King," Bear said.

Dage lifted a shoulder. "I'm pleased you're all right." He nodded at Nessa. "Commissioner."

She started. "You've already heard about my position?"

Dage rolled very silver eyes. "I've known since you were sworn in decades ago. I'm. The. King."

Bear sat forward. "You knew about her and didn't say a word? You and I just spoke the other day when I agreed to allow your nephews a safe haven and a job."

"Eh." Dage steepled his fingers beneath his chin. "Wasn't my secret to share."

A more likely story was that Dage wanted to see how it all played out between Nessa and Bear. The king might be a badass, but he was also a helluva matchmaker. "I would've appreciated a heads-up," Bear snapped.

"All right. Then how about this? The woods around your land are teeming with sharpshooters and a strong ground force. All witches." Dage smiled.

Nessa flushed a light pink.

Bear turned on her. "I thought the Guard went home."

She swallowed.

Dage coughed. "She's their commissioner, and she has a kill order on her head. It's time you learned how to work with the witch nation, Bear. Especially since you mated one."

Bear started. "How did you find that out so quickly?" They hadn't gone public yet.

Dage's chin lowered. "The. King. Me. I'm the damn king." He shook his head. "My satellites have quite the view. Speaking of which . . . Commissioner."

Nessa pressed her hands to the table. "Yes, King?"

"Your people conducted not only an operation but a full-on assault on another Realm member, on foreign soil, and without informing me." His voice hardened.

Bear stiffened. "King-"

"Yes, we did," Nessa interrupted Bear, her eyes lighting up. "Our apologies. It won't happen again."

Dage furrowed his brow. "I'm afraid that's not good enough."

"I hate politics," Bear groaned. "Just hate it."

Nessa eyed him, obviously enjoying the interchange. "Then stay out of it." She turned back to the king. "What do you want, Dage?"

"Access to Satellite Alpha Delta," Dage said smoothly. "We're not interested in your other three. Just that one."

Nessa didn't miss a beat. "Alpha Delta? Never heard of it. You know all witch satellites are controlled by the Council of the Coven Nine, right? You should contact Vivienne."

Dage sighed. "I'm aware of the Nine's satellites. I also know that the Nine only knows of two of the Guard's satellites, and AD isn't one of them. Give me access, Nessa. The technology on it is better than on any other satellite, and I need to keep an eye on the Kurjans."

Nessa paused for a moment. "If such a satellite existed, I might agree to sharing surveillance from it. No way, and I mean no way, would I agree to sharing the proprietary design and function of said satellite. Take me to war, out me, do what you must do, but we will not provide that."

"Accepted," Dage said, sitting back, his lips twitching into a smile. "Wasn't that easy?"

Dage nodded at Bear. "If you wouldn't mind, get your damn satellite out of my orbit, McDunphy. We're not going to descend upon you, using today's events as an excuse."



       
         
       
        

Bear gave a curt nod. "All routine, King."

"Also, Nessa. I'd like to talk about a Realm position for you," Dage said.

"She's not going to Idaho," Bear said.

Nessa looked his way. "Excuse me?"

Bear just held her gaze without speaking. He had no right to dictate where she went, considering he'd said it was over. But the idea of her in the Realm's belly didn't sit well with him. He looked back to the screen.

Dage rolled his eyes. "Sorry about this."

A white lab coat came into view, and the queen plopped down on the king's lap. She smiled, her hand on her protruding belly.

Bear grinned back. "Hi, Emma." He'd met her a few times, and she was a pistol. "How are you feeling?"